Haryana commits to demarcate 'no construction zone', clears way for sub-plan

NEW DELHI: In a move to shield Mangarbani sacred grove from any real estate development in the guise of recreational activities, Haryana government on Friday committed to demarcate the area as 'no construction zone'. Moreover, under pressure of huge number of pending land licence applications and after major objections from Delhi government and Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) on green issues, the Haryana government also committed to drop contentious provision of more construction in natural conservation zones (NCZs) such as Aravalis.

Now with Haryana's commitment and Uttar Pradesh already complying with the provision of present norm of capping construction at 0.5% in NCZs, the revised regional plan is also likely to delete the newly introduced section to allow more construction and tourism in such areas.

No representative from Uttar Pradesh and Delhi government attended the meeting. While UP had informed that none of its officers could come due to the poll code, sources said Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and PWD secretary could not join because of a massive fire in Vasant Kunj slums in which 4,000 people were left homeless.

According to sources, Haryana will soon notify its sub-regional plan after incorporating observations of MoEF and NCRPB. An official said Haryana will comply with all the Supreme Court orders on identifying forest areas and preparing the geo-reference maps. MoEF has pointed out significant gaps in the reports prepared by Haryana government in both these cases.

"If the sub-regional plan fails to align with the provisions of regional plan, NCRPB will ask the state to make further changes. This is being done even in the case of UP sub-regional plan, which has been notified by the state," said a government official.

It's also learnt that following a PMO directive to urban development ministry and NCRPB that the plans should not be finalized until and unless the MoEF's concerns were resolved, efforts were made to address the issues. "The process of resolution has started. Once this is over, PMO will be informed and the revised regional plan will be notified," said a source.